LAS VEGAS — As Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, the first pick in the 2010 draft, reportedly nears a maximum-contract extension worth five years and $80 million, there will be much said about whether he deserves such a deal, especially after fellow point guards Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry and Ty Lawson all took deals worth $42 million to $48 million over four years in 2012.

You can guess how Wall feels about the subject.

Asked at this week's Team USA minicamp here if he ranks among the NBA's elite point guards, he said, "I believe so. I think the point guard position is the best in the league, so you're going against the best wherever you go. I feel like I am right up there with the best of them. I feel like when I am healthy, I stack right up there with them. I put myself in that category."

While this is, indeed, a golden age of NBA point guards, the list of players at the position who have been given max deals is a scant one: Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams. Those guys combined to make 15 All-Star teams. Paul, Westbrook and Williams are all Olympians. Rose is a former MVP.

Wall's resume is comparatively thin, and the Wizards would be taking a serious leap of faith in paying him that kind of money. But in Wall's three season with the team, there is evidence that he has the talent to command a maximum deal.

In fact, Wall's three-year progression is remarkably similar to that of Westbrook—both rely heavily on their tremendous quickness and came into the league at age 20, relying mostly on their top-of-the-line speed and ability to get to the rim. Both had to learn how to be better playmakers, and both had to develop a perimeter shot.

Wall was hampered to start last season, having injured a knee before the season began. After playing 18 games and getting his feet back underneath him, check out his numbers after the All-Star break: 20.7 points, 44.7 percent shooting, 7.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

The most important number for both guys is shooting percentage. Westbrook shot 40.8 percent from the field in his first two seasons, and Wall shot 41.6 percent. For both, the third season featured a leap in the midrange game.

That's not to say that Wall is going to match Westbrook's accomplishments going forward, only that he is at the same point in his career now that Westbrook was, and there is no reason he can't keep getting better.

One major difference, though, is that in Westbrook's third season—teamed with Kevin Durant and James Harden—the Oklahoma City Thunder were in the Western Conference finals. The Wizards ended last season nine games out of the eighth seed in the East, and even with Wall's strong second half, the team went 14-17.

That's been an issue for Wall since he arrived in Washington. The Wizards have been among the NBA's worst teams, going 72-158—being nine games out last season is the closest they've come to the postseason in that time. That's not necessarily Wall's fault. But he admits it has been less-than-fun, and will continue to be until the Wizards are in the playoffs.

"That is my biggest goal," he said. "You know, me, I am a competitive person, I like to win. So it is no fun if you're not winning. You're in the NBA, but it's no fun. It has been fun at certain times, but when you're winning more and you can get to the playoffs, that's when it'll get fun."

Much of that depends not only on Wall, but the health of big man Nene, who was limited to 61 games last season, and the performances of rookie small forward Otto Porter and second-year guard Bradley Beal. Beyond that, Wall will get his new max deal, and he'll hope to prove he is worthy of it.